. >> reporter: dave brubeck's music was a defining sound in clubs in the '50s and '60s. a "time" magazine story in 1954 described him as a wigging cat with a far out wail. >> are thereny rules? >> you bet there are and the rules of jazz would scare you to death. >> reporter: the son of a california cattle rancher and classical trained pianist, brubeck had a natural ear for melodies. he told walter cronkite -- >> it's like a baseball player or any athlete. he's only good when he instinctively does the right thing. >> the dave brubeck quartet signature tune "take 5" appeared on their landmark album "time out." released in 1959 it was the first jazz album to sell a million copies. the opening cut "blue rondo a la turk ts" was taken from the street in kabul. throughout his career, brubeck was an ambassador for music. in 1988 he play at the reagan i. throughout his career, brubeck was an ambassador for music. in 1988 he play at the reagan /gorbachev summit in moscow. >> all these people that almost hated each other was swinging. >> in 1994 clinton awarded him the national med